Motion-picture camera.



C. F. JENKINS.

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27,1912

Patented Mar. l0, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHLET 1.

Suce/nto@ @Hof/neg ami/tuned C. E. JENKINS.

MOTION PICTURE CAMERA.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27, 1912.

MM l w m n w w M .m d s DU 2 t @v4/humus UNITED sTATEs PATENT orricn.

CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS, F "WASHINGTON, DISTB-CT/OF CGLMBIA.

MoTioN-rTCTURE CAMERA.

To all who/a it may concern Beit known that L; CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS. citizen of the United States, residing at Washington, in the District of Golumbia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Motion-Picture Cameras, oflwhich the following is a specificaf tion, reference being had therein to the ac` zio companying drawing'.

Ny 'invention relates to motion picture cameras in which the sensitized film is continuously withdrawn from a light tight box, exposed, and rewound in a similar box inthe horizontal plane ofthe'box first mentioned,

the exposure being made in the axial line ofA a lens continuously moving in a circular pathin `a plane perpendicular to the plane of. the exposed portion of the hlm, and light being admitted at .intervals determined by a rotary shut-ter.

ln the accompanying drawings, Figure lv is a plan view ofthe apparatus, the top of thel camera box or casing being removed.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same devices,

the side of thefc'asing nearest the observer .being removed. Fig. 3 shows the same .ap-

paratus as seen fromthe left in Fig." 2, the end of Lthe casing beingreinoved. Fig'. 4 is plan view of a. lens and film-guide carrying box.. Fig. 5 is a view of the front end of 'the .box of Fig.. 4. Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the Asame box. Fig. 7 isa detail sectional plan view of a portion of the film winding devices.-

ln these figures, A represents a casing having a. door A, a front light-aperture A2, a transverse partition A3, and a partiallongitudinal partition'A"x rigidly fixed to the partition A3 and. with it detachably'fixedto the casing by screws, so that both partitions and most of the working parts, carried thereby, maybe removed as a whole from the casing. B, B represent two removable light tight film boxes resting on the rear .portion of the bottom of the casing and in opposite corners of the latter. In therear of the partit-ion A3 is a box C from which a' in the partition, adapted topermit thetube to move in a Avertical circular path, light beingv excluded in 'a suitable way, shown vin this instance as by means of a thin flexiblel lD the ends of which are carried in equal Specification of Letters Patent. Y Patented R131. y10, 1,@14, Application ledrfune 27, 1912. Serial No. 706,187. v

circular paths by cranlr-plates D, D2, the former driven from' a power shaft l5 by means of gears F,'F, F2, andthe latter driven at the same speed by the gear F and` vgears F3, F 4, the box being thus moved bodily in a vertical circle the diamcterof` which isequal to that of the circlerdescribed T by either crank pin.v l

Between the lens tubeland the front of the casing is a rotary shutter'Gr driven lfrom the -main shaft E by gears G', G2 and a shaft G3.

Film, H, is drawnfforward from the loox B, passed around a direction charging` rod l, inclined with respect to the lilms adjacent path then rearwardly around similar ,rods

, under rollers I2, I3, to sprocket drum J,

which constantly feeds `it forward and against which itis pressed by the rollcrlast mentioned, `,Froiii the drum, itpasses forward 'and their downward under aspring-,Iv pressed guide plate K,-on the rear end of the box C, around a roller-L, and thence back 'to the lower side of the drum, against which it is held by a 'roller L@ From theY drum, it passes around rollers -M, N t0 -theother film box B', wherev it is vwoundinto a roll, upon a hollow spool O detachably fixed to a short' shaft O mounted in a sleeve bearing O2 carried b v a plate O3 fixed to the wall of the box B, the shaft boing provided at its outer end with a crossbar O4 lying in a recess in'.A i

tion A4, a broad arm or frame P, in the planev of the partition, is hinged to swing toward the door of the casing but not opposite'ly.- In the rear free end ofy that armL is mounted a short shaft Q having, on one side vof the arm a pulley Q", and upon the other side,'next the box'B a fork Q2 adaptedto pass freely into and out of engagement with the crossbar O4 when the box is moved laterally into and out `of normal position.v

The pulley Q is driven by a preferably elastic belt R from a pulley R on the main vshaft E.

To 4remove the boxes, the'door being open, the film winding box B is withdrawn' horizontally, the crossbar on the winding shaft' ics passing freely out of engagement with the 'g L fork Q2, the hingedv arm is swungon its verticalaxis out of the path of therear box B, and the latterA is then removed .like the rst. By this arrangement the boxes are conveniently handled although side by side [in the. 'easingfand boxes largeenough to contain very, llong films may `be employed .inl a' camera havin'gno greater dimensions than arerequired for the .other mechanisms, o r in other words a casing in whichonly short films may be used ordinarily, answers 'for `films ofd'oublefthe usual length.'

ing drum constantly'draws film from the box B and delivers-itto the film guide and at the same time`A its lower side advancesthe film whichlias passed the guide. The box C meantime is moved in a circular path and as 1t 'rises and moves forward the drum.

i holds the lm on its vlower side and hence the film slips under the guide K. As the box movement continues, the film becomesslack below the guide while owing to slack fabove therev vno pull upon it'in an upward direction vand consequently it temporarily moves with'the box and without :movement ti'on of the with respect'thereto. During this interval, the rotating shutter momentarily admits light and a icture is formed upon the por- -glm exposed at the rear ofthe box C `and held by the guide. When the box has passed its lowest point and is rising', the -movement aided by the action of the drum and the 'forward movement of the box again What Iclaim Yis l. In motion picture apparatus`, the combination-with a lens anda film guidear ranged .to hold transversely disposed film at a constant distance from the lens, of meansy draws the film down av pictures width.

\ for moving the lens and guide together iny fa circular path, and .means whereby the film is at intervals prevented vv-from moving with the guide in a direction opposite to the-direction offthe films feeding movement at. the guide, whereby the. ,film is vcaused to ad- Vance intermittently withv respect to the t guide. i

' 2. In moving picture apparatus, the-combination with a lensand a film guide adapted to hold a film strip at' a constant distancefrom'the lens, of means for moving the lens and film guide together in anendless path, Ameans for causing the film to adt vance step by step in said guide, and means for interrupting the passage of light to the film while it is in motion.

3. The combination with means for con-- stantly feeding a film strip, of a lens and a film guide, in fixed relation thereto, slightly resisting the advance of the film, means for moving the lens and guide together in `an 'endless path varying in distance from the constantly feeding means, and means for alternately 'aliowing and interruptingv the passage of light to the guided portion of the film said feeding means and means for movingthe guide being arranged to produce step by step advance of .the film with I'espect toithe guidesubstiantially as set forth. '4. The combination with a lens and a guide for frictionally holding film to he 'fed transversely tov the axis of the lens, of means for moving the lens and guide synchronously inA an endless path, means where by the film 1s at intervals prevented from moving with the guide in a direction oppositeto the direction of thefilms feeding' movement at the guide, causing the film to advancewith respect to the latter., and means l for interrupting thepassagev of' light to the guided portion of the film while the film 1s thus advancing. 1 f t y 45. In motion picture apparatus, the combination withV a lens moving in an endless path and carrying with it andin its axis a portion of a film, ofmeans whereby said portion is exposed while the `lens moves through a portion of its path, and'meanswhereby the-movement of the lens through another po'rtionof said path brings a fresh vportionof the film -into said axis. quickly takes up the slack below the. guide mechanism adapted to detachably engage the winding devices. 1

7. The combination with a camera casing provided with a lateral opening for the insertion and removal of film boxes, of two removable film boxes located side by side, in thefsame horizontal plane, within the casing, one of the boxes being provided with film winding devices, and an arm hinged to swing into and out of the path followed by one of the boxes inv removal and provided with actuating devices adapted to engage and disengage the winding devices as the' arm and box pass into andout of normal positions.

In testimony whereof1 I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES FRANCIS JENKINS.

Witnesses:

JAMES L. CRAWFORD, ROBERT CRAIG GREENE. 

